Closure latching mechanism for bottom opening charging buckets or the like



y 11, 1954 A. v. CONSOLDANE ET AL CLOSURE LATCHING MECHANISM FOR BOTTOM OPENING CHARGING BUCKETS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1949 INVENTORS flmlmny V Consoldane,

Fred J. d ngs,

220 M. girl/5c P 1 jar a E Z rfia. W

Patented May 11, 1954 onosuns :LAEDCHING MECHANISM non BOTTOM QPENIN-G CHARGING :BUCKETS R THE LIKE Anthony V. -Consoldane, Warren, Fred J. Jones,

Windham; Stephen M. Ward, Warren, Ohio Kirinec and Edgar Application Marchfl, 1949, Serial No. 81,878 8 Claims. (01. 29 4459) This invention v relates to a closure latchint mechanism for a bottom opening charging bucket or the like. More particularly it relates to a new latch which, in closure position, coacts with a cable to hold closed the door sections at the bottom of an electric furnace charging bucket or the like.

The art of cable lat'ching mechanisms for bottom opening charging buckets is broadly old.

However, intljis invention a new and different closure latching'mechanism is disclosed which is not vsuloiect to being easily tripped by accident; is not'su'bjec't to quick deterioration by the wear of the parts; is'able to hold the closure cable in a positive manner around the door sections even though some slack may be present in the cable; and does not have insecure structural characteristics. -He'nce, lthejlatching mechanism of this invention is safer and quicker and easier .to operate than prior such devices. Other objects and advantages will be apparent -from the following description and accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a viewin elevation of a conventional charging'bucke't to which a preferred embodiment of V the closure latching mechanism of this invention is applied and is shown in latched position;

Figure 2 is a view from the bottom of the charging bucket and closure latching mechanism e errin to the drawings, abotto'm o en ngcharging bucket It such as is suitable for use with electric furnaces or the like :is illustrated. This bucket may conveniently be carried by a bail H connected to opposite sides of a body/12 which may be circular in plan. Outstanding hinge frames l3 integral with body l2 "are arranged around the outside of body 12 adjacent the bottom thereof. These frames, have lower portions whichidependsomewhat below body l2,

whichdependent portions on each frame T3 are" 2 drilled in registry for the reception of a hinge p'intle I5 7 The bottom closure for bucket It comprises .a p'luralit'yoi triangular doorsections it, .one of which may also be calleda latching door section ll. The outer ends of door sections it are respectively provided with a pair of integral hinge cars 18 which span the respective frames l3. Each pair of ears 1% is drilled so that they may be connected by the common respective pintle l5 to the respective frame 13 and eiiect ahinge for the particular door section i6 concerned. The undersides .oi the door sections [6 are frequently strengthened by integral strengthening .ribs 19. Adjacent the apex of each door section .56, other than latching door section II, .a cable-engaging member 2'9 is provided in the form of a hook having its outer end spaced away from the underside. of its respective door section and pointing out toward the outside of bucket It. Latching door section 1! in the embodiment shown is provided adjacent its apex with a cable-engaging member 2! int'he former a ring having an eye 22 therein. These cable-engaging members .26 and 2| arewelde'd to the underside of their .respective door sections L6. 7 When closed, the dimensions .o'fthe door sections .I'S are such that a complete bottom closure is formed for bucket It, usually .of inverted pyramidal form, the axis of which is co'incidentwith 'the axis of body I2. Although a comparativelyshallow bottom .closure is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the closure latching mechanism of this invention will operate whether the door sections form .a horizontal coplanar bottom closureor a bottom closure of inverted'pyrami'dal form of greater altitude than that illustrated inEigure 1. V

A cable '23 is providedhaving closed loops at the grespective ends thereof, one of which, loop 2' 1, isat the free end of ,cable '23 and the other, loop 2'5 is at the fastened or captive end of cable 23, One end of cable L23'is fastened to ring 2! by means of loop 25 passing through eye 22 and around ring '21. Other means for fastening this end'of cable 23 toilatching door section I] rmay readily be-provided. (To close the bottom of bucket l0, door sections it, after the bucket is emptied, are either manually or by meanslof .a closing frame (notushown) moved into closed position illustrated in Figures 1 and '2. Free end 214 of cable 23is thenv wound around hooks 20 in engagement therewith and passed. through eye 22, whichis of suflicient size, bring-ingjloop 24 adjacent the closure latching mechanism 26 .-of this invention. It is apparent that unless loop 24 is firmly held, the weight of the contents of bucket It will pull loop 24 through eye 22 and cause cable 23 to unwind allowing door sections it to drop open and discharge the contents of the bucket i 0. Cable 23 is preferably made of all steel wire rope or steel chain. Heretofore, such bottom closure door sections were held in closed position in many cases by lengths of fiber rope which was permitted to burn away to open the door sections. This latter practice is not only relatively expensive but is relatively time-consuming. Use of a steel cable 23 permits of indefi nite reuse and is far less subject to any hazard of accidental breakage.

Closure latching mechanism comprises a latch 27 having a bifurcated inner end 28 and an outer end 23. Latch 2! is substantially arcuate or convex when in position and viewing the underside of latching door section 1'! to which mechanism 23 is attached. Latch 2! is pivotally mounted intermediate its respective ends in a bracket 30 affixed to the underside of latching door section I? in such fashion that the axis of the longitudinal body of latch 2'! passes through the axis of the inverted pyramidal form of the bottom closure of bucket H]. A catch 3| having a pendant leg 32 is pivotally and swingably mounted between the sides of latch 27 in the recess of the bifurcation at inner end 28. In latched position the pendant leg 32 of catch 35 points outwardly in the direction of the longitudinal body of latch 27, the inner end of which bears against the underside of latching door section 11. Hence, when catch 3i and inner end 23 are passed through loop 24 of cable 23, cable 2-3 is held in closure position in a positive manner by engagement with cable-engaging members 2E! and 2 I. Even though there may be some slack in cable 23, after closing door sections it and before bucket ii! is recharged, nevertheless, cable 23 cannot unwind because loop 24 is locked between inner end 28 and catch 3| and the underside of latching door section IT.

A wedge block 33 having an inclined face 34 is slidably mounted in guides 35. Guides 35 are fastened to the underside of latching door section l! by being welded thereto or otherwise aflixed. Block 33 slides in a direction parallel to the axis of the longitudinal body of latch 21 and is adapted to have its inclined face 34 engage outer end 23 of latch 21 when block 33 is moved toward the apex of door section ll. Outer end 29 is so shaped as to have surface contact with inclined face 34, the angle of which relative the direction of movement is not so steep that it can be forced out by any pressure substantially normal to face 34.

The extent to which ends 28 and 29 of latch 21 extend toward the underside of latching door section I1, is such that when latch 21 is rocked, after block 33 is pulled outwardly, the respective ends alternate, that is, when inner end 28 substantially bears against the underside of door section I? outer end 29 is away from the said underside of door section I 'l' and block 33 may be positioned between outer end 29 and said underside to hold latch 21 in latched or closed position. Conversely, when block 33 is removed, the tension in cable 23 pulls inner end 28 and, catch 31 away from the underside of door section H and moves outer end 29 toward the said under-, side. Leg 32 is made of such length that outer end 29 must move substantially all the way up to the underside of door section IT, as shown by the chain lines in Figure 5, before loop 24 can pull free, swinging leg 32 in a clockwise are as it does so. Leg 32 then falls substantially into the position shown in the chain line figure just mentioned. In this way, even if there is slight dislodgment of block 33 or wear on the underside of latching door section ll adjacent respective parts of closure latching mechanism 25, unlatching of the door sections 16 will not take place until block 33 is deliberately withdrawn entirely by an operator.

Block 33 has a recess 36 at the rear thereof in which one end of a link 31 is pivotally connected by a pin 33. The other or outer end of link 37 is connected by a pivot pin as to an arm i3. Arm 13 rotates about a center ll where it is afiixed by a stud bolt and nut 52 to the underside of door section ll. The end of arm ti! extending from center Ill past pin 39 is bifurcated in such fashion that the outer end of link 31 fits between the opposed faces of the bifurcation in question. In this way, and by means of a washer d3, arm is maintained without wobble in a plane substantially parallel to the underside of door section 17.

A spring 44 is connected to a bracket 45 integral with the central rib [3 of door section H. The other end of spring id is connected to arm 40. This spring is so chosen that at all times it urges arm 40 and hence wedge block 33 inward- 1y, that is, into latched or closure position when the outer end is of latch 21 will permit. The outer end of arm All has an opening 46 by means of which an extension bar 4'! is connected. Extension bar 4'5 is guided by an opening 68 through a rib is adjacent the periphery of bucket iii. A loop 28 in the outer end of extension bar ll enables an operator with a hook bar to pull block 33 outwardly, allowing latch 21 to be moved into the chain line position of Figure 5 by the pull of cable 23 and, hence, allowing door sections it to fiy open and discharge the contents into the electric furnace or other structure over which bucket H3 is then positioned. In some cases, an extension bar, such as bar 4?, may not be needed and an operator may directly engage arm as through opening 43 to unlatch the bottom of the bucket. Whether or not an extension bar ll is used, the device of this invention is not easily tripped because there are no members operable substantially directly vertically, as in the case of so many prior devices, which may be caught on projections or otherwise moved to discharge the bucket by accident. Any such accidental discharge is, of course, a substantial hazard to the workmen in the plant.

Although we have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment and practice of the invention, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the device of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A closure latching mechanism. for a bottom opening charging bucket or the like having a plurality of triangular door sections arranged and adapted when closed to form a bottom closure for said charging bucket or the like, one of said door sections being a latching door section, a plurality of cable-engaging members respectively arranged on the underside of said door sections, comprising in combination, a cable door-section, a latch movably mounted between the ends thereof on the underside of said latching door section and adapted to have its respective ends alternately rock toward and away from the underside of said latching door section, one of said ends being adapted to hold said cable in latched position when said one of said ends has been moved tot-Jardsaid underside of said latching door section, and pressure bearing means mounted on said latching door section to move generally parallel thereto between the other end of said latch and the underside of said latching door section to hold said one of said ends of said latch in latching position, whereby when said bearing means are removed, said cable will disengage from said cable-engaging members and allow said door sections to open.

'2. A closure latching mechanism for a bottom opening charging bucket or the like having a piurality of bottom doorsections arranged and adapted when closed to form a bottom closure substantially in inverted pyramidal form for said charging bucket or the like, a plurality of cableengaging members respectively arranged adjacent the apices of said door sections on the lower sides thereof, comprising in combination, a cable adapted to engage said cable-engaging members to hold said door sections in closed position, said cable having one end fastened to one of said door sections, said cable further having a closed loop on the other and free end thereof adapted to be held in latched position against the underside of said one of said door sections, a latch, said latch being pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof and extending substantially in a direction radiating from the axis of said pyramidal form along the underside of said one of said door sections and adapted to have its inner end pass through said loop and bear against said underside of said one of said door sections when said latch is in closure position, a wedge block mounted on said one of said door sections adjacent the outer end of said latch to slide generally parallel to said one of said door sections between said outer end of said latch and said underside of said one of said door sections to hold said latch in closure position, and an arm pivotally connected to said block and adapted to move it out of engagement with said outer end of said latch, whereby when said arm is pulled outwardly said loop is quickly released by said latch permitting said door sections to open by the unwinding of the free end of said cable from said cable-engaging members.

3. A closure latching, mechanism for a bottom opening charging bucket or the like having a plurality of triangular door sections arranged and adapted when closed to form a bottom closure substantially in inverted pyramidal form for said charging bucket or the like, a plurality of cable-engaging members respectively arranged adjacent the apices of said door sections on the lower side thereof, comprising in combination, a cable adapted to engage said cable-engaging members to hold said door sections in closed position, said cable having one end fastened to the latching door section, said cable further having a closed loop on the other and free end thereof adapted to be held in latched position against the underside of said latching door section, an arcuate rocking latch mounted between its ends on the underside of said latching door section in substantiallyconvex position when viewing the underside of said latching door section, said rocking latch extending substantially in a direc- 6 tion radiating from the axis of said pyramidal form along said underside of said latching door section, a'catch swin'gably mounted on the inner end of said latch adapted to pass through said loop and extend substantially in the direction said latch extends when in closure position, said loop-being held by said inner end of said latch in said catch when said latch is in closure position against the underside of said latching door section, a wedge block slidably mounted on the underside of said latching door section adjacent the outer end of said latch to have its opposite sides engaged between said outer end of said latch and said underside of said latching door sect-ion when said latch is in closure osition, said catch having a length adapted to prevent the opening of said latch by bearing against the underside of said latching door section unless and until said wedge block is substantially entirely removed from its position between said outer end of said latch and said underside of said latching door section, and an arm pivotally connected to said block and adapted to move it at least out of engagement with said outer end of saidllatch, wherebywhen said arm is pulled outwardly to slide said wedge block out of engagement with said outer end of said latch, said loop is quickly released by said-latch and catch permitting said door sections to open by the disengagement of said cable from said cable-engaging members.

4. A closure latching mechanism for a bottom openin charging bucket or the like having a plurality of triangular door sections arranged and adapted when closed to form a bottom closure substantially in inverted pyramidal form for said charging bucket or the like, a plurality of cable-engaging members respectively arranged adjacent the apices of said door sections on the lower sides thereof, comprising in combination, a cable adapted to engage said cable-engaging members to hold said door sections in closed position, said cable having one end fastened to one of said door sections, said cable further having a closed loop on the other and free end thereof adapted to be held in latched position against the underside of said one of said door sections, a latch, said latch bein pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof and extending substantially in a direction radiating from the axis of said pyramidal form along the underside of said one of said door sections, a catch swingably mounted on the inner end of said latch adapted to pass through said loop and point substantially outwardly when said latch is in closure position, a wedge block adjacent the outer end of saidlatch and positioned between said outer end of said latch and said underside of said one of said door sections when said latch is in closure position, an arm pivotally connected to said block and adapted to move it along said one of said door sections into and out of engagement with said outer end of said latch, and a spring connected to said arm to urge said block toward said outer end of said latch and into closure position, whereby when said arm is pulled outwardly said loop is quickly released by said latch and catch permitting said door sections to open by the unwinding of the free end of said cable from said cable-engaging members.

5. A closure latching mechanism for a bottom opening charging bucket or the like having a plurality of bottom door sections arranged and adapted when closed to form a bottom closure substantially in inverted pyramidal form for said charging bucket or the like, a plurality of cables engaging members respectively arranged adjacent the apices of said door sections on the undersides thereof, comprising in combination, a cable adapted to engage said cable-engaging members to hold said door sections in closed position, said cable having one end fastened to one of said door sections, said cable further having a closed loop on the other and free end thereof adapted to be held in latched position against the underside of said one of said door sections, a latch, said latch being pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof and extending substan tially in a direction radiating from the axis of said pyramidal form along the underside of said one of said door sections and adapted to have its inner end pass through said loop and bear against said underside of said one of said door sections when said latch is in latched position, a wedge block slidably mounted on the underside of and generally parallel to said one of said door sections adjacent the outer end of said latch and positioned between said outer end and said underside when said latch is in latched position, said wedge block being movable out of the path of movement of said outer end of said latch to enable said latch to be opened, an arm pivotally connected to said block and adapted to move it into and out of engagement with said outer end of said latch, said arm being further pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to said underside of said one of said door sections, and means for supporting said arm in relatively stable position in a plane substantially parallel to said underside of said one of said door sections.

6. A closure latch mechanism for a bottom opening charging bucket or the like having a plurality of triangular door sections and a plurality of closure cable-engaging members on said door sections and to hold said door sections in closed position, said cable having at least one end adapted to be held in latched condition against the underside of said latchin door section, comprising in combination, a rocking latch pivotally mounted on the underside of one door section in spaced generally parallel relation thereto, the respective ends of said latch being alternately movable toward said door section, a wedge block slidably mounted on the underside of said one door section adjacent to one end of said latch, said wedge block bein engaged on opposite sides thereof between said end of said latch and the underside of said one door section when the other end of said latch is moved toward said one door section into latching position therewith, and means connected to said wedge block to move it out of said engagement to open said latch mechanism.

7. In a closure latching mechanism for a furnace charging bucket or the like, in combination, a generally planar closure section having a supporting surface, a bracket connected to said supporting surface, a unitary rockable latch pivotally mounted in said bracket intermediate the ends of said latch, said ends bein alternately rockable about a pivot towards said supporting surface, one of said ends being movable towards said supporting surface to form a latching enclosure therewith between said one end and said bracket, a block connected to and generally movable along said supporting surface adjacent the other end of said latch to engage said supporting surface and said other end on opposite sides of said block when said latching enclosure is formed, means for limiting the movement of said block to that portion of said latch on the same side of said pivot as said other end, and means for movin said block out of engagement between said other end and said supporting surface to open said latching enclosure.

8. In a closure latchin mechanism for a furnace charging bucket or the like, in combination, a generally planar closure section having a supporting surface, a bracket connected to said supporting surface, a unitary rockable latch pivotally mounted in said bracket intermediate the ends of said latch, said ends being alternately rockable towards said supporting surface, one of said ends being movable towards said supporting surface to form a latching enclosure therewith between said one end and said bracket, a block connected to and generally slidable along said supporting surface adjacent the other end of said latch to engage said supporting surface and said other end on opposite sides of said block when said latching enclosure is formed, means for guiding the sliding of said block generally in the plane of movement of said latch, means urging said block toward said other end of said latch to separate said other end from said supporting surface and form said latching enclosure, and means for moving said block out of engagement between said other end and said supporting surface to open said latching enclosure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,097,827 Tsubui May 26, 1914 1,150,500 Chab Aug. 17, 1915 1,181,000 Gregg Apr. 25, 1916 1,451,324 Casainagor Apr. 10, 1923 2,163,386 Sweitzer June 20, 1939 2,228,060 Lescher et a1. Jan. 7, 1941 2,338,617 Baker Jan. 4, 19 14 2,350,611 Hicks June 6, 1944 2,368,671 Lombard Feb. 6, 1945 2,387,457 McIlwrick et a1. Oct. 23. 1945 

